Can opener



Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,808

R. A. MORRISON E-r AL GAN OPENER Filed Nov. 5, 1925 Patented Dec. 14,1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT A oFFlcE.

-ROBE'TRL A. MORRISON AND FRANKLIN L. OSWALD, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAN OPENER.

Application Bled November 5, 1925. Serial No. 66,942.

This invention relates to mechanical devices for opening cans of thatvariety which are formed with end rims or beads of flangelike character,and more especially to the type of can opener having a rotary disccutter adapted, to travel around the periphery of the can immediatelybelow the cap for making a clean shear cut'which will permit the removalof the entire top of the can.

Can openers of this general type usually include a feed roller and aguide roller loosely mounted on apair of hand levers which yare securedtogether on a sliding fulcrum vwhereby the rollers may be moved towardand away from eachother throughthe relative movementof the levers. Thetwo rollers are adapted to frictionally grip .respectively oppositesides of the seam or rim of the can so that the rotation of the feedroller, through the operation of a crank or handle, causes the can torotate with the rim traveling between the two rollers. The disc cutteris mounted on one of the rollers in position to penetrate the side wallof the can when the two rollers vapre-isn. frictional `engagement withthe rim."-"-A`s the can rotates, the disc cutter travels around the sidewall so as to sever the entire top from the can.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a can opener of thischaracter having an improved form and arrangement of parts; to providesuch a device requiring comparatively little manual force to apply andoperate; to provide an improved form and arrangement of link mechanismfor slidably connecting the two levers together in such manner thatsimple gripping pressure on the handle ends of the levers will, withminimum friction, initiall cause the disc cutter to penetrate the wal tobe cut; to rovide an actuating pull link adapted bot to force thecutterv into effective position through the can wall' and to hold itthere with minimum hand pressure during the cutting operation and untilreleased; to

provide such a link mechanism adapted to furnish direct leverage of thefirst order on the cutting disc; and to provide a can opener of thistype which is adapted for ready manual operation when held in one handwithout attachment to any support and which is adaptedto remove the topof the can in a smooth, clean, even manner so as to permit the removalof the contents without trouble or danger of cutting the operator, and

which is adapted to be used on cans of any cross-sectional contour.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown by theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the can opener, showing the top side,vthe device being in its closed or operative posit-ion.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the can opener as applied to a cylindrical can,the can being indicated by dotted lines on' the right hand side ofthefigure.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the Vcan o ener, part of the rotatablecrank handle eing broken away.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the cutting endofthe tool in its operative relation to a can shown in the process otopening, the can being shown in section.

In the embodiment herein shown, the improved can opener is applied to acommon form of can comprising a-cylindrical wall l, and a cap 2 whichare secured together by the usual double seam 3. In this class of cans,30

the main portion of the cap is depressed so that the double seam extendsoutwardly in the form of an 'annular flange or rim.

In the specific construction herein shown,

the improved can opener comprises a pair 35 of levers 4 and 5 which arepivotally secured together and arranged to provide a pair of handles 6at one end thereof whereby the tool may be conveniently held in one handfor applying the required amount ot' 90 pressure to the cutterand feedroller, while the latter is operated with the other hand of the user forrotating the can.

In the form shown, the levers 4 and 5 comprise flat strips of metal ofsubstantially uniform cross section. Mounted on the forward end of thelever 4, is a stud 7 which provides a bearing on which is looselymounted a guide roller 8 and a disc cuttet` 9. In the form shown, theroller 8 and cutter 9 are integral but, if desired, they may be separatepieces. The disc cutter 9 projects beyond the periphery of the roller 8so that, when the guide roller engages the outer edge of the seam 3, thecutter penetrates the side wall 1 immediately below the cap 2.

The lever 5 is slightly longer than the' lever 4 so as to provideaforwardly pro- Va crank shaft 11 'having fixed thereon a knurled feedroller 12. The shaft 11 is rovided with a handle 13 wherebyfthe cedroller may be manually operated.v The jaw member is offset slightly fromthe plane of the lever 5 so as to locate the feed roller 12 insubstantially the plane of the guide roller 8.

Formed in the lever 5, is a longltudlnally extending slot 14 whichslidably engages the stud 7. This pin and slot connection between thetwo levers provides a sliding fulcrum which permits the feed roller 12and guide roller 8 to be moved toward and away from each other.Pivotallyconnected to the levers 4 and 5, at points located onrespectively opposite sides of the slidingfulcrum, is a link 15, whichis arranged so as to exert a pull on the two levers when the handlemembers 6 are compressed, thereby forcing the guide roller 8 and feedroller 12 toward each other. The ends of the links 15 are bent atsubstantially right angles thereto and project through apertures 16formed in the levers 4 and 5. The inner edge of the lever 5' is'recessedat 15.1 so as to receive the link 15 when the handles 6 are closed.

In order to permit the tool to be used for opening cans which do notinclude the usual rim, the jaw member 10 is formed to provide a punchblade 17 which is adapted to be driven through the head of the can forcutting an openmg in the well known manner. A jaw 18 is formed oppositethe blade 17 for engagement with the upper face of the cap. The jaw 18and blade 17 may also be used for removing caps from bottles.

To open a can with this improved tool, the handles 6 are grasped in onehand and the double seam 3 of the can is gripped between the ide roller8 and knurled feed roller 12. y applying slight pressure to the handles6, the disc cutter 9 is caused to penetrate the side wall 1 of the canat a point immediately below the cap 2. With the tool held firmly in onehand, the handle 13 is rotated withthe' other hand so as to cause thecan to rotate under the rolling action of the feed roller 12. Vhile thecan rotates in one direction, the disc cutter rotates in the oppositedirection and makes a clean cut around the entire can, thus permittingthe removal of the entire head.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown maybe altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected togetheron a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at oneend thereof, a roller mounted on one of said levers, a rotatable cilttermounted on the other of said levers, said fulcrum being located betweensaid handles and roller, and a link pivotally conpivotally connected tosaid levers at'points located on respectively opposite sides of saidfulcrum for urging said roller and cutter toward andA away from eachother through the relative movement of said levers.

3. A can opener comprising a pair ot' levers pivotally connectedtogether on a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handlesat one end thereof, a knurled feed roller mounted on one of said levers,a crank connected to said feed roller whereby it may be manuallyoperated, a rotatable cutter mounted on the other of said levers. saidfulcrum being located between said handles and roller, and a linkpivotally connected to said levers at points located on respectivelyopposite sides of said fulcrum for urging said roller and cutter towardand away from each other through the relative movement of said levers.

4. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected togetheron a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at oneend thereof, a feed roller mounted on one of said levers, a guide rollermounted on the other of said levers, said rollers being adapted to griprespectively opposite sides of the rim of the can,

'a disc cutter mounted on said other lever gcoaxially vof said guideroller, and projecting beyond the periphery thereof, said'fulcrum beinglocated between said handles and feed roller, and means controlled bythe relative movement of said levers for moving said rollers toward andaway from each other.

5. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected togetheron a sliding fulcrum and arranged to provide a pair of handles at oneend thereof, a feed roller mounted on one of said levers, a guide rollermounted on the other of said levers, said rollers being adapted to griprespectively'opposite sides of the rim of a can, a disc cut-ter mountedon said other lever coaxially of said guide roller and projecting beyondthe periphery thereof, said fulcrum being located between said handlesand feed roller, a link pivotally connected tov said levers at pointslocated on respectively oppo-A site sides of said fulcrum for urgingsaid .rollers toward and away from each other through the relativemovement of said levers.

6'. A can opener comprising a pair of levers arranged to provide a. pairof handles at one end thereof, one of said levers having alongitudinallyl extending slot formed therel on said one lever, a rotarydisc jcutter mounted on said stud, and means controlled by the relativemovement of said levers for moving said roller and cutter toward andaway from each other.

7. A can opener vcomprising a pair of levers arranged to provide a pairof handles at one end thereof, one of said levers having alongitudinally extending slot formed therein, a stud on the other ofsaid levers and slidably engaging said slot to provide a sliding ulcrumfor said levers, a roller mounted on said one lever, said fulcrum beinglocated between said handles andV roller, a rotary `a longitudinallyextending slot formed therein, a stud on the other of said levers andslidably engaging said slot to provide a sliding'fulcrum for saidlevers, a knurled feed roller mounted on said one lever, a crank foroperating said feed roller, a guide roller mounted on said stud, arotary disc cutter on said stud, said fulcrum being located between saidhandles and feed roller, and a link pivotally connected to said leversat points located on respectively opposite sides of said ulcrum forurging said cutter and feed roller toward and away from each otherthrough the relative movement of said levers.

Signed at Portland this 29 day of Oct; 1.925.

ROBERT A. MORRISON. FRANKLIN L. osWALD.

